by Leslie Deckard and Steve Haskin
The field for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) could increase by one after trainer Todd Pletcher said it is "probable" that Let’s Go Stable’s Ready’s Echo would be tossed into the mix of starters for the 1 ½-mile race June 7 at Belmont Park.
“Right now, it is highly probable that he will run,” Pletcher said May 29. “We plan to breeze him (June 1), and if everything goes according to plan, then we will run.”
Bred in Kentucky by Meg Buckley and Michael J. Buckley, the dark bay or brown ridgling son of More Than Ready out of the Kingmambo mare Menekineko most recently finished third in the May 10 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) behind expected Belmont starter Casino Drive. Casino Drive, a son of Mineshaft , is a half-brother to champion and Pletcher-trained Rags to Riches and Jazil, the last two winners of the Belmont.
“The horse is doing well, and we felt like he had a good prep in the Peter Pan and seems to be a horse that is continuously improving, so it is worth giving it a try,” Pletcher said.
Kevin Scatuorchio of Let’s Go Stable said: "He trained well on the turf over the weekend (four furlongs in :51.04 May 26), and we were thinking of running him in the ($600,000) Colonial Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) on June 21, but if he can finish second or third in the Belmont, which would be the best-case scenario if Big Brown runs his race, that's probably better for us than winning the Colonial Turf Cup. He could get beat there, too; we're certainly not a cinch to win that race."
Before his stakes debut in the Peter Pan, Ready’s Echo finished second in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack at Keeneland April 12. He broke his maiden in his first start of the year at seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park March 5. Ready's Echo has a career record of 1-2-1 from four starts. He has earned $67,200.
Pletcher signed the $100,000 ticket for Ready’s Echo at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale from the consignment of Theave Main Stud, agent. He was originally offered by Theave Main Stud as a weanling at the 2005 Keeneland November breeding stock sale but failed to meet his reserve.